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Page last updated at 09:13 GMT, Wednesday, 6 May 2009 10:13 UK

Swans fear top-flight cash lure

Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez has a good record of transfer wheeling and dealing

Roberto Martinez concedes it will be hard for Swansea City to stop their star players being attracted by the lure of the Premier League millions.

Top-scorer Jason Scotland, midfield talisman Ferrie Bodde and on-loan playmaker Jordi Gomez are being tracked by top-flight managers.

And Martinez admits: "It's hard tor the players not to see the excitement at earning Premier League money.

"Professional footballers have a short career - and that is the reality."

Trinidad and Tobago international striker Scotland has been linked with £2.5m move to Middlesbrough, Bodde has attracted the attention of Bolton Wanderers while creative midfielder Gomez is wanted by a host of top-flight clubs.

Bodde was one of the Championship's star men before a serious knee injury ruled him out for the season in November and the 27-year-old midfielder was subject of a failed £2m bid from Derby County last summer.

Gomez was honoured alongside 24-goal Scotland in the Professional Footballers Association Championship team of the year but the 23-year-old's future is undecided as his parent club Espanyol have the final say.

Jordi Gomez
We will talk to Jordi and if he said he can continue enjoying his football at Swansea City then we'll try everything we can to try and keep him

Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez

"There are footballers who can gamble with their future and delay the move to the Premier League," Martinez told BBC Sport.

"They all understand our long-term vision and the bigger picture, but our challenge is to keep the players that want to stay and are proud to play for Swansea City.

"Then find good replacements for those players who want to move on - as long as we get the right valuation for the player because like every football club every player has a valuation and we will lose players.

"But not many clubs have the financial stability that we have so every decision will be made from a football point of view - we have no need to sell.

"We're on the right path but the players will have a say in their own future."

Swansea have sold big - such as Lee Trundle to Bristol City for £1m - but have bought bargain basement players and the club posted a loss of just £91,761 in the year until May 2008, a sum that does not include its playing squad as assets.

Scotland and Bodde were bought for five-figure sums but now both have seven-figure valuations as top-flight clubs circle.

"To get some speculation and scouts watching our players is a great thing for Swansea," said Martinez.

"As if you get interest from other clubs you must have had success on the pitch and that is something we haven't had for a while.

"Swansea City is back on the footballing map - and that is what we want."

The Swans, last season's League One champions, won universal plaudits in their first season back in English football's second tier for 24 years as Martinez's men played with style and panache.

Swansea were FA Cup giant-killers when they knocked out holders Portsmouth and took fellow Premier League side Fulham to a replay in the next round as pundits took notice of the Martinez revolution.

606: DEBATE
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The Swans made a mockery of pre-season predictions of consolidation in the Championship as they made a concerted play-off bid, just missing out finishing in eighth position and six points outside the top six.

Martinez hopes to sign on-loan Gomez on a permanent basis from Spanish La Liga side Espanyol and has first refusal on signing the Spanish midfielder from the Catalan club.

But Martinez warned he'll try to sign Gomez "only within certain structure and limits."

"Jordi has brought something extra to the team," he said.

"We will talk to Jordi and if he said he can continue enjoying his football at Swansea City then we'll try everything we can to try and keep him."



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see also
Martinez planning minor changes
04 May 09 |  Swansea
Martinez warns Premier vultures
30 Apr 09 |  Swansea
Swans wait for Gomez green light
11 Feb 09 |  Swansea
Swans star Bodde out for season
22 Nov 08 |  Swansea
Bodde opts to stay with Swansea
15 Jul 08 |  Swansea
Bodde hands in transfer request
02 Jun 08 |  Swansea
Dutchman Bodde signs for Swansea
13 Jun 07 |  Swansea
Swans sign Scotland from Saints
25 May 07 |  Swansea
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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